Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Talktalk Group

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still appoint directors to the board ofOneWeb.

Lord Callanan: The Government currently appoints three non-executive directors to OneWeb’s board. Following completion of the proposed OneWeb – Eutelsat merger, Government would continue to be represented on the board of the combined business.

Eutelsat

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the implications of being a shareholder in Eutelsat together with the government of China.

Lord Callanan: The China Investment Corporation (CIC) has a longstanding passive shareholding in Eutelsat of less than 4% that would be further diluted by the merger between Eutelsat and OneWeb. The CIC has never been represented on Eutelsat’s Board nor has it had access to any privileged information on Eutelsat or OneWeb’s operations.

OneWeb: Satellites

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government how many OneWeb launches have taken place since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the halting of launches by the Russian Soyuz; from what locations they were launched; and using what launch vehicle.

Lord Callanan: At the time of writing, no launches of OneWeb satellites have taken place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The next launch is currently scheduled for 23 October 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, using a Launch Vehicle Mark 3 developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Oneweb

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current value of their interest in OneWeb.

Lord Callanan: The value of the Government’s holding in OneWeb as at 31 March 2022 is £376m which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and represents the latest point at which the Government valued the investment. The original equity investment was for £374m.

OneWeb

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government whether their sale of interest in OneWebto Eutelsat of France was approved under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Lord Callanan: The merger between OneWeb and Eutelsat is subject to UK and international regulatory approvals, including under the National Security and Investment Act 2021. The Government does not comment on individual cases.

Natural Gas: Storage

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 25 January (HL5285), what changes they have made to their policy on gas storage; and when they expect increased storage capacity to be available.

Lord Callanan: Energy security is an absolute priority for this government. It is sensible for the Government to explore all possible options to maintain security of gas supply, this includes exploring the future of the clean energy storage landscape. The department has and will continue to engage with the sector to explore options for storage capacity expansion in the longer term. The Government recognises the increased capacity the Rough gas storage site could provide and hence welcomes Centrica taking the necessary steps to re-open a proportion of the Rough site for this winter. It is Centrica’s commercial decision to apply for regulatory approvals, and to invest in re-opening the site, and management of injection and production rates is at their discretion.

Business: Regulation

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is still their policy to applya one-in-three-out rule for regulation on business.

Lord Callanan: No. The Government discontinued the one-in-three-out policy in 2017.

Mathematics: Research

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have forallocatingthe remaining £176 million of the Additional Funding Programme for Mathematical Sciences announced in January 2020.

Lord Callanan: Following the Government announcement to invest additional funding into mathematical sciences, BEIS published its funding allocations for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in May 2022. The total UKRI allocation as published was £25.1 billion for 2022-25, providing UKRI and its constituent councils with the funding needed to deliver world class research and innovation, including in the Mathematical Sciences. The Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council’s core funding for Mathematical Sciences will continue at the level of circa £25-30 million per annum for grants, fellowships, and studentships. This is alongside the £124 million Additional Funding Programme for Mathematical Sciences funding provided to support activities that have been started to date. UKRI will seek further opportunities to support mathematical research as it establishes a portfolio of investments

Department of Health and Social Care

Infectious Diseases: Disease Control

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since March 2021, other than rolling out vaccinations, to ensure that the UK healthcare system is better prepared for (1) a further surge of COVID-19, and (2) a new pandemic, than it was in March 2020 and January 2021.

Lord Markham: The National Health Service winter resilience plans will increase capacity for winter 2022/23, with the equivalent of at least 7,000 general and acute beds, including the use of innovative virtual wards to treat patients safely at home.To prepare for future pandemics, updated planning scenarios have been developed that reflect the impact of a broader range of pathogens with pandemic potential. These scenarios are being used to inform the requirements for robust, flexible and deployable capabilities which can be adapted to outbreaks of different scales and characteristics.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) became fully operational on 1 October 2021 and includes the new Centre for Pandemic Preparedness. Working with the Department and NHS England, the UKHSA will ensure that measures are in place to protect against all future health threats, including pandemics, through the enhanced capabilities deployed to address COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Lord Bowness: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of thefuture role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Russia's invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance and utility of the OSCE. The Vienna Document, an OSCE military transparency mechanism, highlighted Russia's troop build-up before the invasion and the OSCE "Moscow Mechanism" was amongst the first tools used to document Russia's human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine. The OSCE remains an important forum to hold Russia accountable to OSCE commitments and its actions in Ukraine. The OSCE retains a unique role in economic, environmental and human security and the UK is resolutely committed to preserving it as a forum for conflict management, mediation and dialogue.

Republic of Ireland: Travel Requirements

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the requirements of the proposed EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which will be placed on (1) UK citizens, (2) Irish citizens, (3) EU citizens who are not Irish, and (4) non-EU citizens who wish to travel from Northern Ireland to the Irish Republic.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The European Commission is developing the European Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering all third country nationals, including UK citizens, each time they travel to and from the Schengen Area. As the Republic of Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, EES will not apply to travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Falkland Islands: Politicians

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government why theGovernor of the Falkland Islands was given full Governor dress uniform which is not available to all other Overseas Territories Governors; and what plans they have to make that uniform available to other Overseas Territories Governors.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Since 2001, Government policy has been that Overseas Territories should decide whether they wish to retain and fund ceremonial uniforms for Governors. The Governments of the Falkland Islands and Bermuda have chosen to retain the uniforms. The Governors of Gibraltar have traditionally worn military uniform.

Palestinians: Elections

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the agreement reached in Algiers on 13 October by 14 Palestinian factions to hold legislative and presidential elections within 12 months in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Gaza; and what plans they have, if any, to offer assistance to that end.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Palestinian people should be allowed to enjoy their democratic rights. We urge further work towards genuine and democratic national elections for all Palestinians, which is crucial to the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian State. To this end, we call on all Palestinian factions to seek common ground and to work together to pursue a positive and peaceful path towards democracy. We continue to encourage the Palestinian leadership to work toward strong, inclusive, accountable and democratic institutions, based on respect for the rule of law and human rights.

Nicaragua: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the UN Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaraguaregarding its work programme, in particular (1) when it will start work, and (2) whether it will publish interim reports

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: In March 2022, the UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution establishing a Group of Experts on Human Rights mandated to investigate alleged human rights violations in Nicaragua. They are due to present a written report of their findings at the HRC's fifty-second session early next year. They have already started work, including information gathering, although we have not been informed whether they will publish interim reports. Alongside international partners, the UK continues to consider a range of measures intended to increase the pressure on the Ortega regime to end its repression of the civilian population in Nicaragua and to encourage respect for democracy and the rule of law.

Tigray: Armed Conflict

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the 18 month blockade of Tigray on the (1) nutritional status, (2) mortality rates, and (3) access to essential services, of the population of that region.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Since November 2020 humanitarian access to Tigray has been severely limited causing devastating impact on food security, access to care, and essential services. Limited access has also made data gathering and verification challenging. The UN estimates 13 million people require food assistance in Ethiopia due to the conflict in the north. As of mid-2022, humanitarian surveys in Tigray estimated malnutrition remained alarmingly high, with 55-80 percent of pregnant women and new mothers and up to 30 percent of children affected by malnutrition. Risks of mortality continue, exacerbated by lean seasons, erosion of coping capacities and blockage of basic services.

Ethiopia: Human Rights

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Report by the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, published on 19 September; and in particular, the findings that (1) there are reasonable grounds to believe that violations, such as extrajudicial killings, rape, sexual violence, and starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare have been committed in Ethiopia since 3 November 2020, and (2) in several instances these violations amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK welcomed the report of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) and co-sponsored the resolution renewing the Commission's mandate at the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council on 22 September. We are appalled by the reports of widespread human rights violations and abuses in Ethiopia committed by all sides to the conflict, which in some cases are likely to amount to war crimes. It is important that survivors receive comprehensive support and perpetrators are held to account. We are urging all parties to cooperate with the Commission's investigations. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara have raised these reports with the Ethiopian and Eritrean Governments, and the former Minister for Development did so with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 19 October while visiting Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: Armed Conflict

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the two-year conflict in Ethiopia on the (1) nutritional status, (2) mortality rates, and (3) educational standards, of children in Tigray.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UN estimates 13 million people in northern Ethiopia, at least half children, require food assistance. As of mid-2022, humanitarian surveys in Tigray indicated up to 30 percent of children malnourished and nearly 6 percent were severely malnourished. Risks of mortality continue, exacerbated by lean seasons, erosion of coping capacities and blockage of basic services. As of September 2022, it was estimated that 1.8 million children in Tigray were out of school, out of a total 2.4 million children in the region. Due to the pandemic, conflict, and drought, many may have been fully or partially out of school for three years.

Department for Work and Pensions

Healthy Start Scheme

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, the Department for Work and Pensions will resume the sharing of Healthy Start take-up data with the Department of Health and Social Care.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: DWP are working with DHSC to make data available by the end of 2022.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Strangles: Vaccination

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the vaccine for Strangles in equines to protect them from disease.

Lord Benyon: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) regulates Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMPs) and assesses applications submitted by the veterinary pharmaceutical industry to authorise and make available good quality, safe and efficacious VMPs, including veterinary vaccines. There are currently two veterinary vaccines authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland which include claims against Streptococcus equi which can cause strangles in horses. Current information about veterinary medicines authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland including these equine vaccines can be found on the Product Information Database on GOV.UK (www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/).Alternatively, where a suitable veterinary vaccine authorised in the UK is not available to treat a disease, a veterinary surgeon may apply to the VMD for a special import certificate, which allows the use of a veterinary vaccine authorised elsewhere in the world. These applications are subject to a risk assessment by the VMD.

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord Benyon on 24 May 2021 (HL Deb col 814), whether future Environmental Land Management schemes will include options for farmers and land managers to receive financial assistance for improving public access to the countryside.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Benyon on 24 May 2021 (HL Deb col 814), what steps they have taken to engage with public access stakeholders in the design of Environmental Land Management policy.

Lord Benyon: HM Government is a great supporter of the health and wellbeing benefits that access to the countryside can bring. As articulated in the 25 Year Environment Plan, public access to the countryside provides a huge range of benefits, including improving physical and mental health and supporting local communities and economies. HM Government supports educational activities that aim to provide access onto farms for the wider public and school children through grants available in Countryside Stewardship. This includes funding farmers for hosting school pupils and care farming clients to engage with farming and the environment, as well as funding for training to enable an agreement holder to carry out enhanced educational experiences. We are considering how best to maintain investment in public access as part of our future schemes. The teams responsible for developing the options for future schemes have been engaging with the quarterly Access and Engagement with Nature Stakeholder Forum, and will continue to do so. In addition to the quarterly forum, Defra officials will be holding an engagement session dedicated to the discussion of Environmental Land Management with public access stakeholders in November.

Bananas: Diseases

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what support, if any, they are providing to banana producing countries in the Caribbean against the TR4 strain of Fusarium.

Lord Benyon: HM Government is supporting Overseas Territories in the Caribbean to identify the presence of the TR4 strain of Fusarium. Through services provided by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), four samples were received from the Cayman Islands in March 2021 which all tested negative for the invasive fungus Fusarium oxysporum. This is the only known instance of direct action on Fusarium. FERA is contracted by Defra to identify plant pathogens on endemic plant species in the British Overseas Territories and to provide advice regarding any findings of pathogens.Through the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill we are supporting our world-leading scientists to use precision breeding technologies, such as gene editing, to develop plants that are more resistant to disease. There is work ongoing to develop banana varieties that are resistant to the TR4 strain of Fusarium.

Rights of Way

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 May (5327),what plans they have to legislate to repeal the cut-off date for the recording of historic rights of way.

Lord Benyon: Repealing the cut-off date will require primary legislation. As soon as an appropriate legislative vehicle has been identified we will use this to repeal the cut-off date.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Affordable Housing: Construction

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their plans to scrap the new affordability rules for housing developments.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: National policy currently states that sites under ten units (or five units or fewer in designated rural areas) should not be required to provide affordable housing. A decision (attached) was taken in April 2021 not to take forward a proposal to change the threshold at that stage, but to keep the situation under review. Gov response to the first Homes proposals (pdf, 391.2KB)

Allotments: Finance

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they provide to local councils for the provision of allotments; and what plans they have, if any, to increase such funding.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The Local Government Financial Settlement makes available funding for local authorities in England. Most of this funding is un-ringfenced as local authorities are best placed to understand local priorities, including allotments. Future funding and policy announcements will be made in the usual way.

Cabinet Office

National Science and Technology Council

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new Inter-Ministerial Advisory Group on Science and Technology will be afforded the same decision-making status as its predecessor, the National Science and Technology Council.

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new Inter-Ministerial Advisory Group on Science and Technology will be afforded the same decision-making status as its predecessor, the National Science and Technology Council.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The National Science and Technology Council was established as a Cabinet committee in October 2021 to consider matters relating to strategic advantage through science and technology. The Cabinet committee list was updated in September 2022. In October 2022, the National Science and Technology Council was established as an inter-ministerial group responsible for delivering an ambitious UK science and technology strategy and to consider key science and technology issues. Where collective agreement is necessary for issues covered by an inter-ministerial group, it is sought in the usual way through a committee or ministerial correspondence.Cabinet committees support the principle of collective responsibility, ensuring that policy proposals receive thorough consideration and collective agreement. Cabinet committee decisions have the same authority as Cabinet decisions.

Question

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Neville-Rolfe on 24 October (HL2521),who, other than the Leader of the House of Commons and the President of the Council, was involved in taking the decision to reduce the Accession Council to 200 attendees on 10 September.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The decision not to summon all Privy Counsellors to the next Accession Council was taken on the advice of the Privy Council Office and with the collective agreement of the Lord President and Number 10. The Royal Household was also consulted on the basis of this collective advice.

Climate Change Cabinet Committee

Baroness Northover: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change last met; and whether it will be chaired by the Prime Minister.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.GOV.UK is updated regularly with the terms of reference and membership of Cabinet Committees.

Treasury

Retail Trade: VAT

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact onhigh street retail businesses of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to withdraw the VAT-free shopping scheme for non-resident visitors announced on 23 September.

Baroness Penn: On 23 September, as part of the Growth Plan 2022, the previous Chancellor announced that HM Treasury, in partnership with HMRC, would introduce a modern, digital, VAT-free shopping scheme, with the aim of providing a boost to the high street and creating jobs in the retail and tourism sectors. Due to the changing economic picture, on 17 October, the current Chancellor announced that the Government would no longer be proceeding with the introduction of such a scheme. This decision was included as part of the reversal of almost all of the tax measures set out in the Growth Plan on 23 September which have not been legislated for in Parliament. The purpose is to ensure the UK’s economic stability and to provide confidence in the Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline. The Chancellor made clear in his statement that the UK’s public finances must be on a sustainable path into the medium term.